Blog List

TU football vs. Malone updates

September 2, 2010 - Zach Baker

About six minutes from kickoff. Mostly cloudy, about 80 degrees. This is going to be quite interesting. A lot of question marks for both teams tonight.

TU starts with the ball at its own 24. QB Nate Scully opens under center, David McKnight in the backfield. Scully is sacked on the second play from scrimmage for a 10-yard loss. Not a lot of protection there. Third and 17.

But just when the the groans begin, Scully hits David Singleton over the middle for a 39-yard play.

Tiffin has the ball at the Pioneers 45. On second down, a nice pitch-and-catch with Trey Williams for 13 yards and a first down. Scully looks confident and patient in this first drive. Another completion to Williams, who shakes off some tackle attempts and moves inside the 22. The fact that Scully is hitting his two best receivers --Williams and Singleton, is a good sign.

TU is converting its third downs, again to Williams,TU has moved inside the 10. McKnight bursts in for a nine-yard TD. A wonderful start for TU. It converted its third downs, featured its best players, and leads, 7-0 at 9:35 in the first quarter. 11-plays, 77 yards.

Scully is sacked for the second time. He loses 10, but McKnight again blows through the line for 17 yards. But on third and three, McKnight is stuffed, setting up TU's first punt. (5:21).

-Malone appears to be using the triple option here. Logan Francis is the Malone QB. TU forces a third and 13 from Malone's 26. Through a few plays, TU looks quicker on defense. A couple missed tackles, but overall it looks quicker than a year ago.

Francis feels pressure on third down, throws to his right and misses the receiver. Here comes a punt. Brenton Williams calls for the fair catch at TU's 39. (7:31).

Malone running back Marcus McFolling blasts through the line, running for more than 50 yards and bringing the Pioneers into the red zone. Tom Ferron catches a pass at the two, gets blasted by TU's Mike Virgin, and gets down to the TU 1. Malone runs a pair of running plays, gaining no yardage. It's third and goal from the three.

On third down, Francis is in shotgun. He throws to the right corner and hits Matt Kiel, who was in single coverage. Great throw, nice catch. Kick is good. 7-7, 1:40, first quarter.

-David McKnight starts the next TU drive with a pair of runs totaling 19 yards. McKnight is interesting. It's as if he gets a quick burst, then runs over people. Good combination.

The first quarter has ended. 7-7, TU has a second down and four on its own 36.

Second quarter

Another completion to Singleton on a slant, a 14-yard gain. After a couple plays, it's fourth and three from the 43.A run, and TU just, just, just gets it. Scully drops back, has Brenton Williams in one-on-one coverage down the left side, and makes a pretty throw. Williams makes what is almost a rebound-like catch, and bounds into the end zone. Touchdown. Nine plays, 78 yards, 4:38. 14-7

-Malone is having trouble getting plays in. It just had to burn its final timeout with 10:59 left in the second quarter. The timeout doesn't help the Pioneers. They go three and out. On the punt, TU roughs the kicker, and that gives Malone a first down. Someone's gonna get yelled at on the sideline.

TU allows a first down, then forces a punt, but a hold on the Dragons on a third and long keeps the drive going again. That's two third down calls that have kept the drive going. (7:52)

A couple yards on third down brings up a fourth and two and a half with 6:58. McFolling gets the first down with a 13-yard run.

-McFolling gets the ball in a shotgun handoff, goes 18 yards for a touchdown at the 6:01 mark. Extra point is good, tie game. What's frustrating for the Dragons is the fact that they made two stops on that drive, but two penalties kept it going. That has to bother the coaching staff.

Trey Williams is having a big half. He catches a horizontal pass and gallops down the sideline for 35 yards. TU moves to about the Malone 26. (3:12).

It's third and about four at the the Malone 14. 1:08 remains.

After a fumble and 10 yard loss, Mike Rutkowski makes a 42-yard field goal to put TU up, 17-14. (18.7)

TU leads at the break, 17-14.

Scully is 11 of 12 passing, 10 straight completions to end the half. He has 177 yards passing and a TD.Trey Williams and Singleton have five completions each, for 69 and 68 yards, respectively.

McKnight has 12 carries for 62 yards.

Malone's McFolling has 89 yards on nine carries.

-So begins the second half, with Malone having the ball at the 21. TU's defense could really use a stop.

Fourth and a foot from the 47. Malone punts, TU gets the ball at the 33, so not a good kick. (11:34)

A screen to Brenton Williams gets TU a first down and past midfield. On the next play, it's Trey on a touch pass for 24 yards. On a third and 15, Malone's Matt Vick picks off Scully's pass at the Malone 13. He was going for Trey Williams, but it wasn't a great pass, or decision. (8:11).

Francis and Malone face a third and 14.Francis gambles, throws to his right, and TU's Courney Embry picks it and takes it back to the 25. (7:22).

Facing a third and three TU is stuffed, bringing up a fourth and 3. TU is goingfor it. Scully rolls out, and finds (who else) Trey Williams for five and a first down. On second and 10, Scully throws a fade to Trey Williams in 1-on-1 coverage. Williams grabs it. Touchdown. Rutkowski's kick is banged through. It's 24-14.

Six plays, 25 yards. 4:52 remains in third quarter.

On first down on the ensuing possession, after a 47-yard completion, Mike Virgin picks off a pass and returns it 84 yards for a touchdown. Big time swing there. It's 31-14 TU. (4:07).

Again, penalties are hurting the Dragons. A face mask rescues a Malone drive and puts Malone in scoring range.

With Malone facing a third and 13 at TU's 18, we head to the fourth quarter. Third and 13.

A reverse pass to Matt Kiel go to Ryan Boland for an 18-yard TD on the first play of the fourth quarter. TU's lead is cut to 31-21, 14:57 left.

Tiffin drives to Malone's 40 and stalls, but it does burn about six minutes off the clock. A punt puts Malone with the ball at its 16. (8:58)

Malone gains a first down, then is forced to punt. TU gets the ball at its 14, look for a lot of running.

TU goes three and out -- one run, two incompletions. Malone will get the ball at its own 47. I have seen TU struggle in situations like this. About six minutes remain and a 10 point lead.

On third and short, Cody David sacks Francis. It's now fourth and 12. Douglas Marshall makes another sack. It's TU's ball, 5:07 left. Now I expect running.